Boot for carriages.



No. 662,183. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

E. R. BRIGGS.

BOUT FOR CARBIAGES.

(Application filed Se t. 13, 1900.

(No Model.)

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UNTTE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD R. BRIGGS, OF ALWIESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT FOR CARRIAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,183, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed September 13,1900. Serial No. 29.918. (No model.) I

To all whom, it I'll/(by (run/(tern:

Be it known that I EDWARD R. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Boots for Carriages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the ordinary construction of a carriage the boot thereof is arranged to be folded up inside the carriage-body and inclosed within a cover usually secured by buckles. The cover is somewhat inconvenient to remove when the boot is needed quickly, and the latter is not readily unfolded for use. It is also more or less difficult to fold the boot into a neat compass when of a size sufficient to afford adequate protection to the occupants of the vehicle.

It is the object of my invention to produce a form and arrangement of boot which can be easily manipulated and which will more completely efiect the intended purpose than do those forms and arrangements with which I am familiar.

My improvement will first be described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of embodiment thereof, after which theessential features of the invention will be particularly pointed out and distinctly defined in the claims at the close.of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a carriage-body provided with my improvement, showing the boot in its position of use. Fig. 2 is a middle vertical longitudinal section of the forward portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the side pieces of the boot secured ready for housing the latter. Fig. 4 is a section, like Fig. 2, showing the boot housed. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a portion of the upper end of the boot.

Referring to the drawings the side panels of the carriage are designated 1 and the bottom 2.

3 is the front panel.

The seat is indicated at 4.

In the angle between the front panel 3 and bottom 2 is positioned a spring-roller 5, the

' ends of which are journaled in brackets 6 affiXed to the inner faces of the side panels 1. The said spring-roller may be of any approved construction, preferably having its body formed of metal in order that it may not be affected by moisture remaining upon the boot when the latter is housed. To the described roller is affixed one edge of the boot 7. I prefer to employ a spring-roller, it will be understood that I may substitute therefor a roller otherwise manually operated to house the boot.

In order to properly inclose the springroller just referred to, a combined lid and footboard S is transversely disposed'across the angle in which the roller lies. Hinges 9 are provided for attachment of the footboard to the bottom 2 of the carriage-body. The side edges of the footboard are in close proximity to the interior faces of the side panels 1, so as to permit the footboard to swing on the hinges 9, while preventing entrance of dirt and the like into the space provided for the roller 5. The upper or free edge of the footboard is rabbeted, as at 10, and an angle-iron 101 is affixed to the edge of the footboard, the effect of this construction being to permit the footboard to overlie the inner edge of the front panel, or, more properly speaking, to overlie the molding 11, which finishes and protects the front panel. As will be seen, the boot when in use is flexed and pinched firmly in the joint thus formed and is prevented from sagging or being drawn back by the roller. Furthermore, the water from the boot is shed over the front. panel and discharged outside the carriage instead of seeking an entrance through the joint between the footboard and panel.

In dotted lines in Fig. 1 is indicated the movement of the footboard when the boot is being drawn out into its position of use.

The boot itself is formed with side pieces 12, preferably of a substantially triangular shape, in order to cover the space between the side edges of the main portion of the boot and the side panels and seat-risers of the vehicle. These side pieces are so proportioned that they may be folded over upon the main part of the boot and so that when in that position they will lap over each other at their free corners. The said corners are provided,

While respectively, with the parts of a separable fastener 13, by which they may be attached together, and after such attachment has been effected the entire boot may be rolled smoothly upon the spring-roller 5 and the footboard closed over the latter. Straps 131 are affixed to the rear edges of the side pieces of the boot and are arranged to serve a double purpose. When the boot is in its position of use, the straps are attached to buttons 132 on the seat-back, as shown in Fig. 1. When, on the other hand, the boot is to be housed, the side pieces thereof are turned up, as shown in Fig. 8, and fastened together, and the straps are slipped through slits 133, Fig. 5, in the main portion of the boot'near the rear edge thereof. The housing of the boot is then accomplished by taking hold of the straps, which, it will be seen, support both the side pieces and the main portion of the boot and maintain the same in a flatcondition without any wrinkling or sagging and allowing the springroller to act to roll up the boot smoothly. When the boot is again drawn out for use, the act of unfolding the side pieces automatically pulls the straps 181 free of the slits 133 and leaves the said straps free to be attached to the buttons 132.

When housed, the boot is re moved entirely from sight, the footboard presenting a neat appearance and being in itself serviceable. The boot is thoroughly protected from damage and deterioration when not in use. The operation of bringing the boot into its position of use and of again housing it is simple and can be readily performed.

Although shown arranged for use at the extreme front of a carriage, the boot may be used in connection with a rear seat, as will be readily understood, with proper modification of form.

What I claim is 1. In a vehicle, the combination of the vehicle-body, a roller mounted therein, a boot attached to the roller and adapted to be housed thereon, and a lid or footboard arranged in conjunction with the vehicle-body to conceal and protect the boot when the latter is housed on the roller, substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of the vehicle-body, a roller mounted therein, a boot attached to the roller and adapted to be housed thereon, and a lid or footboard arranged in conjunction with the vehicle-body and formed to project over the edge of the latter and cause the boot todischarge water outside the vehicle, substantially as described.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of the vehicle-body, a roller mounted therein, a boot attached to the roller and adapted to be housed thereon, and having slits near its upper edge, side pieces constituting portions of the said boot and adapted to be folded inward upon the main body of the boot and to lap over each other when thus folded, and straps afiixed to the rear edges of the side pieces in position to be inserted through the said slits in the main body of the boot whereby the several portions of the boot are held in proper relative position while the boot is being housed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EDWARD R. BRIGGS. \Vitnesses:

LEPINE HALL RIcE, OSCAR F. HILL. 

